Ander Mirambell
First Spanish Olympic Skeleton sportsman. Expert in the use of creativity to overcome challenges
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Catalan, English, SpanishAnder Mirambell is a prime example of professional success. Living proof that if someone does their utmost to achieve something they are passionate about, they can reach their goal. He is a trained sportsman and a big sports fan and has achieved professional standing in his chosen activities, even though they are completely unknown in his home country.
Therefore, Mirambelle is the first and only Spanish Olympic skeleton competitor. Despite facing the problem of the sport having virtually no support in Spain, Mirambell has managed to perform outstandingly on the ice by using his own inventions, which have substituted the equipment and training techniques that were not at his disposal.
Ander Mirambell's creative ability is one of the keys to why he continues to compete among the best. Instead of a sled he used a door on wheels, instead of ice, sand from the beach, instead of machines for training the neck, a helmet that has a weight hanging from it, and he even appeared at one competition wearing some trainers with graters attached to the soles because he did not have the professional shoes. His motivation, strength of desire and willingness to overcome difficulties are beyond any doubt.
He took part in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver (Canada) in 2010 and in Sochi (Russia) in 2014. He also raced in the skeleton World Cup, in which he is considered to be one of the best competitors since 2008. He attained his best position in the North American Cup in Lake Placid in 2012, finishing in second place, and won Austria's legendary Christmas Race. That was the first skeleton victory achieved by a Spaniard.
He is the author of 'Rompiendo el hielo' ('Breaking the Ice'), in which he tells of his journey to becoming an Olympic sportsman, and how it was only through his sheer will, hope and inventiveness that he reached the pinnacle of a sport that was not practised in Spain and for which there were no facilities.
Mirambell has a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, and a Masters in Administration and Management of Sports Facilities. He achieved his dream of becoming a footballer playing for the RCD Espanyol football club and subsequently, that of becoming an Olympic sportsman, taking part in the winter sport, skeleton. This was particularly challenging since skeleton was not something that was practised in Spain and there were no tracks, facilities, federations, associations or teams.
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